The Not Exactly Complete Works of Peter Schulman

Circumstantial Evidence

Chapter 18

Lily left a message on my answering machine. There was an eighty-thousand-dollar bracelet listed on the rider. I returned her call.

“Lily Beauchamps Investigations.”

“What’s the story with this bracelet?”

“It was bought at Eternal Elegance Jewelers in New York according to the appraisal. It doesn’t specify the buyer and there was no check to Eternal Elegance listed in her account. And it’s not on her credit card statements.

“I thought it would be interesting to know who buys an eighty-thousand-dollar bracelet for his … whatever she was.”

“Me too.”

“I’m not sure I’m the right person to find out, though.”

“Why not?” I asked.

“I look like a woman who might fence an eighty-thousand-dollar bracelet, not buy one for another woman. I don’t have that dripping-with-money aura and I don’t look like the shy mistress type.”

“So you don’t think a store that sells eighty-thousand-dollar bracelets will give you that information just because you ask nicely?”

“It seems unlikely,” she said.

“What do you suggest?”

“You used to be pretty damn good undercover. You could look like a guy who would spend that kind of money if you get somebody to dress you before you go.”

“It’s too bad Priscilla’s in prison. She would know just the right thing. Did you find out anything from Janet’s address book?”

“Not directly. There aren’t many names. There are almost no last names. They are mostly men and, when I call, they aren’t very forthcoming.

“I tried telling them I got their number from Janet, but everybody knows about her murder. She must have been involved with some pretty important guys. Nobody is talking.

“The neighbors rarely saw her. I guess she was out a lot. I haven’t had a chance do a reverse lookup on all the phone numbers yet.”

“Is there anything else?” I asked.

“There is still mail coming in and I have to check out the credit cards, frequent flyer statements and whatever else shows up.”

“Okay. I guess I’ll plan a trip to the Big Apple. Would anybody buy you as my girlfriend?”

“You wish,” said Lily.

I didn’t know if I could justify subpoenaing the jeweler’s records. I could try that if all else failed.